May 25, 2011

What if you gave a toast and nobody raised their glass with you, because they were in the middle of a solemn ritual that you had thought was the solemn ritual that is your toast but was their national anthem and the elderly queen was queenly enough to say gently to you "that's very kind"? You would carefully place your glass on the table and stand stiffly like everyone else and hope that the wide frown on your face expressed not your nightmare experience but some simulacrum of the "national anthem face" you should have had there all along, when you were blabbing that Shakespeare — Shakespeare! — to try to butter them up about what a great country they think they have. Oh! The rigidity of this horror!

I haven't watched the video or listened to the audio specifically because of the pain. I read the text description of it and decided it was intolerable.

The fact that this guy did it makes it suck worse, but, frankly, I cringe at anyone making such awful mistakes in a live performance of any kind. I tried to watch the Chinese acrobats a few years back and almost crawled out of my skin waiting for one of them to screw up.

Too painful to mock? Isn't that all academics did with Bush and do with Palin? That is practically all I hear in the hallways when they are mentioned.

And Bush had no where near the number of obvious "I'm A Fool" moments that President Obama has had. To me, Obama is the classic former professor turned university administrator. A way to sure of himself fool.

Buffoon - I actually heard some liberal nut on TV said "Well, he (Obama) thought the song was My Country 'Tis of Thee". Really? Really? When you are in Buckingham Palace at a State Dinner they are going to play My Country 'Tis of Thee? Maybe when he got rid of Desiree Rogers all of the folks that know protocol about such things took a boogie, too!

Re:the I-pod Obama gave her - wasn't it full of Obama's speeches so she could listen to him as she was going night-night?

And doesn't the president remind you of most of the administrators we have to suffer with? All the while we give them great recommendations hoping some other university will hire them away and save us.

Are we sure that the orchestra was supposed to start playing in the middle of BHO's toast?

I get that they like their pomp and such. But, seriously! Our president is supposed to start a toast, and then pause so he can stand around waiting for their anthem, and then he is expected to continue w/ the toast? What a weird protocol.

Couldn't the orchestra take a break and let the guy finish w/ the toast?

Is it possible that the orchestra should have waited? But they jumped the gun.

A three part toast w/ a start and end of jabber, and a national anthem in the middle seems absurd. A simpler explanation is that the orchestra jumped the gun. Or, BHO jumped the gun and the anthem was supposed to be before his toast. But, combining the two is nuts, imho.

Women with their bizarre ideations actually seem to enjoy wearing formal gowns. With the single exception of Fred Astaire, all men look uncomfortable and a trifle silly while wearing tails. My heart goes out to Obama. A faux pas in formal wear is an aggravating factor to the embarassment.

pbandj -- So the president does something that looks on its face to be idiotic and in poor taste. Well, chief, let's play shoe-on-the-other-foot: had it been Bush, would you be contorting yourself in such a convoluted way to come up with an explanation? Or would you just lambaste and laugh with national discomfort?

"Are we sure that the orchestra was supposed to start playing in the middle of BHO's toast?"

The protocol is for the orchestra to play while everone stands at attendion and then Barry does the toast. He should have been briefed on that. If he was not, his protocol people need to be fired. If he was and was just too stupid to do it correctly he should be fired.

The correct protocol was to save the "...to her majesty the Queen" for the end of the toast! It's the cue for the Anthem to begin. I think somebody heavily emphasized to Obama that he was to close with those exact words, but he choked and blurted them out first thing, like a kid in a aschool play. Nobody ever said his teleprompters were just for show.

Ouch. That is cringe-inducing. I'd have felt better if he laughed it off--since when are Americans to beholden to protocol?--but he looks simply mortified. I feel bad for him.

If that had been me, I would have run out of that hall like a sixteen year old girl whose coming out party was ruined when Sally Amber-Oakes-Bailey spilled her Shirley Temple on my dress, right in front of the boy I was hoping to neck with after the cake. God Save the Queen, indeed.

Richard II became king at age 10. He needed other people to run the country for him until he grew up a little.

Anyway, I can't help feeling bad for Obama here. Just looking at his face as he realizes what he's done... it's painful. You can see him wrestling his expression into something more solemn.

I also think it's remarkable but unsurprising how everyone else keeps a calm dignified expression. The ceiling could cave in and I'm sure they'd brush off the debris delicately from their shoulders with a quiet, "Well, well."

I'm glad people are mocking Obama and calling him an "idiot" and such. It's our national tradition and indeed the tradition of all democracies to insult their leaders' intelligence.

However, the idea that this gaffe is a national embarrassment or somehow has a negative impact is delusion (@hoosier @windbag). Just look at Obama's numbers in England: Approval rate in the %70s. Bush's was in the %20s. Are you seriously going to argue that Obama's presidency is harming our relationship with Britain? You just sound like a petulant twerp when you do. "Obama removed Churchill's bust"-- how many times did we hear that boner of a story? It's all a rightist fantasy.

That was a narcissist's nightmare...not being in control of how others perceive you. Michelle had better stay out of Barry's sight for a few days. First Netanyahu exposed Barry's faked giving Israel orders, and now Queen Elizabeth exposed his faked giving England an honor.

Humbleness folks -- Obama was probably informed and somehow the network got mixed up. No big deal really -- it's just a state dinner. He's human and the Queen is modest. Obama is so normal, even as brilliant as he is, a reason why we vote for him as we have. Thank you Mr President for making us a proud country and you can't be more charming than the prince darling -- at his fragile age.

It does seem to be something with this administration that they do not take advice from the State Department on protocol or much of anything else.Remember Hillary and her "Reset" button?

Far being it for me to extol the virtues of the US State Department on policy, but the Administration really should make use of their professional services. The Dept. has been around for a long time, and they do know about these things.

TWM, there's no reason for you (or I) to know British protocol, that's just the explanation I heard on the radio (NPR?). But once I watched the video it became obvious. He actually says "...to her majesty the Queen..." three times total. Once in the beginning, once at the end of his toast and once when he catches up with the rest of the world. If I had done something like that while speaking on Flag Day in the sixth grade, my podium privileges would've been permanently stripped. Miss Withstandley had no time for mush-mouths, squirmers or people who forgot their scripts.

The pictures were better than the words. President Barack Obama is a brilliant speaker, but also a very polite man, and in Westminster Hall his oratorical inspiration was smothered by the cautious politeness of an American statesman.

Perhaps Mr Obama was smothered also by his audience, which remained stubbornly unresponsive. For most of the time the President had nothing to bounce off: no applause and certainly no shouts of praise or blame as might be heard in an American church or at an American political rally.

I'm sure after this the inside joke at Buckingham Palace will be the chorus from "Over There."

Over there, over there,Send the word, send the word over thereThat the Yanks are coming,the Yanks are comingThe drums rum-tumming everywhere.So prepare, say a prayer,Send the word, send the word to beware

I get that they like their pomp and such. But, seriously! Our president is supposed to start a toast, and then pause so he can stand around waiting for their anthem, and then he is expected to continue w/ the toast? What a weird protocol.

Why the inconsistency? You would be in horror if a Republican POTUS offended the Saudi King.

To get over that, it helps to remember what a horrible, horrible person he is. Once you've done that, just remember that for as long as there is an England, there will be that video.

It's all I can do to not liquidate my life savings, buy lots of tiny loud speakers, and distribute them to college Republicans so Barry can relive the experience of talking through that song every time he gives a speech for the rest of his Presidency.

"If they failed to do so - which I don't for a moment believe they did - they should be fired.

5/25/11 1:06 PM"

My point is that by now, Obama should go out of his way to make sure his staff brief him on protocol. If they aren't doing a good job, even now, after many other gaffes, that's Obama's fault for not being an effective administrator of his staff.

That's one of those reasons we should elect leaders with more experience. It's all too easy to imagine Obama just didn't think to have someone scrutinize the advice he's getting. He spends his time playing games like golf or watching ESPN, and I don't see many people on his staff who will give him honest criticism. That's another thing experienced leaders want, and noobs like Obama do not want.

It's Obama's fault, either way. Yes, he should terminate the people who gave him bad advice, but he really should have hired people who'd give him good advice.

If that had been me, I would have run out of that hall like a sixteen year old girl whose coming out party was ruined when Sally Amber-Oakes-Bailey spilled her Shirley Temple on my dress, right in front of the boy I was hoping to neck with after the cake. God Save the Queen, indeed.

@Coketown;

Okay, that made me smile. Congratulations on a well-crafted paragraph.

Granted, I'm an uncouth midwestern type, but I would have preferred the Pres. to tell the band to shut the #$@! up, I'm talking here. And then say, "look, lady, that's a nice game of pretend you've got going on there, but your 75 years old for chrissakes, give it up. I'm not playing along, I'll talk to your PM, but you're an impotent, inbred relic of a fascistic monarchy which my country's forefathers shucked off their shoulders over 230 years ago, and we're sick of this BS."

Had he said that, or something like it, I'd actually vote for the twit.

However, the idea that this gaffe is a national embarrassment or somehow has a negative impact is delusion (@hoosier @windbag). Just look at Obama's numbers in England: Approval rate in the %70s. Bush's was in the %20s. Are you seriously going to argue that Obama's presidency is harming our relationship with Britain?

The reason you have a protocol department isn't to influence the lowest common denominator who read Hello! magazine and answer opinion polls. You take protocol seriously because it matters to people with influence and power.

This little incident could absolutely harm our relationship with the UK and you'd never be able tell from an opinion poll.

It doesn't matter if the orchestra mistakenly started playing too early (if they, in fact, did).

It is not a question of whether Obama or the orchestra has protocol priority. Once "God Save the Queen" started, early or not, the music takes priority. That means that even The One should shut the hell up. That does not mean Obama saying, "hey, I'm talking here! and continuing to make the toast." Any fool should know that.

We would consider anybody talking through our national anthem to be a rube. Just shut up, we'd think.

And that's what Obama should have done. Now, I look at that video and cringe rather than react in disgust. I think he wants to crawl under the table. However, he had already spoken at some length and what he had left to say wasn't vital. Shutting up when the band played was definitely an option.

Then he has seen enough basketball, football, and baseball games to know that when the Star-Spangled Banner starts playing, you shut the hell up and stand there respectfully. He also knows that when someone else is taking a shot or making a putt, you stand still and shut the hell up.

If "to Her Majesty, the Queen" is the signal for the orchestra to play, and I that seems to be so, it was not the conductor's mistake.

But then even more so, it is something that the President should have been briefed on and obviously was not.

And any way you cut it, for such a smart man, he was awfully slow catching on.

It is not so much about a breach of etiquette. There was a much worse, and deliberate one, back in the day when Frederick IX of Denmark pulled out his cigarette case and smoked a cigarette at a dinner with the Queen's father, as it is that the US Government appear incompetent.

The man is a buffoon. Given the number of protocol mistakes he has made, it appears he isn't listening to his protocol people or halfway through, he impatiently tells them he's got it like a young child.

As the consummate narcissist, learning about others (which meas paying attention to someone else) and respecting their traditions falls outside the realm of Obama's skill set. His primary interest is in impressing others with his greatness and manipulating them into doing his bidding.

Unfortunately, the consequences of this approach to life sometimes leads to such social blunders.

Are we sure that the orchestra was supposed to start playing in the middle of BHO's toast?

I get that they like their pomp and such. But, seriously! Our president is supposed to start a toast, and then pause so he can stand around waiting for their anthem, and then he is expected to continue w/ the toast? What a weird protocol.

No, it was not the orchestra's fault. Obama was supposed to make a very brief toast, not an entire speech.

Once again.....do they not have any people in their Office of Protocol or in the State Department that can give the President (and pretty much any of the other people in the administration) a freaking clue?

How many embarrasing flubs have they made so far? A LOT.

Seriously. There are people who are versed in International Protocol and could have guided him through this process.

Either he isn't listening to them or he is using the same clueless self important idiots who write his speeches. They all think they are the smartest people in the room and ...guess what....they really are not.

The Band of whichever of Her Majesty's Guards Regiments is on ceremonial duty at the Palace this quarter?

The band did not screw up. They practice. O'bama, not so much....

O'bama said the magic words, "To Her Majesty the Queen" The duck came down, and O'bama got duck shit on his head.

LOL... I met the Queen in 1966 when she visited British Guiana just prior to its independence. I was part of a group of preschoolers selected to present her with flowers. And even at that young age I knew the protocol; it was drilled into us over several days of rehearsals.

get that they like their pomp and such. But, seriously! Our president is supposed to start a toast, and then pause so he can stand around waiting for their anthem, and then he is expected to continue w/ the toast? What a weird protocol.

Why the inconsistency? You would be in horror if a Republican POTUS offended the Saudi King.

If you play the video back and forth you will see that Obamas hand comes forward and then back down again.. forward and then back down again.. The music was of a caliber unrecognizable to the president.

It is a serious breach of shooting party etiquette to shoot a fellow guest in the face. Now that's a faux pas....Obama botched this, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not so much. It's pleasant enough to luxuriate in his chagrin, but have a care. Obama followers will look upon you the way Palin followers looked upon Katie Couric.

I'm inclined to give the President a break, because I think this is only partly his fault, the major fault lying with others.

The Queen preceded him with a similar sort of toast, and she went from prepared notes. I have no doubt both hers, and his, were carefully written for this occasion; and others who worked for them had copies.

I don't know, but the smart thing to do would be to have someone, with those notes, standing near the orchestra, following along--as well as watching--to get the cue right. Of course, it may be they don't do that--but as choreographed as these things are, not doing that is a serious oversight.

In which case, whoever cued the orchestra messed up. Then the President messed up in continuing to talk over "God Save the Queen."

It is a serious breach of shooting party etiquette to shoot a fellow guest in the face. Now that's a faux pas....

Actually, it is more of a serious breach in shooting party etiquette to stand in the range of fire of the other party members when shooting upland game. You don't stand to the front of your other hunting partners.

I take it you have never been hunting and are not familiar with gun handling.

Obama needed note cards to make a short toast!?!?. WTF. Where is teh smartest man in the world? We were told that it was Obama.

We are entirely missing the point. The Queen, lady that she is, let him off the hook. It wan 't the error - that happens all the time. It was Obama's failure to graciously accept his mistake and forego his toast, or alternatively to be mature enough to understand he was forgiven and smile warmly (and a little self-deprecatingly). .

"and the elderly Queen was queenly enough to say gently to you, "that's very kind."

It's a bad mistake, but forgivable if he wasn't such an arrogant ass, and we didn't have to listen to people tell us for years how cool he was, despite the fact that they knew little about him, and ignored any bad they did know.

It's the lies and deception having sunlight hit them that makes this newsworthy. It how bad it makes his supporters look, rather than him.

I think that those of us of a certain political persuasion should start using the "O'Bama". Somewhat like Winning the Future when we are really saying something a bit more obscene. (or, as my kid says, Brittney Spears for Bovine Scatology).

On the other hand, he can't be the first Irish President. Kennedy had that honor, at least for Irish Catholics. And Clinton was the first Black President. Not sure what that leaves.

Palladian: I agree. On all fronts it is funnier, especially the pretentious date before the month English convention which he undermines with his preemptive toast. I would guess etiquette was not one of his mom's top priorities. Have never seen how he might grasp a fork but I can guess.

If our president was vigorously attacking our budget deficit and reigning in entitlement spending, all the while keeping us safe and "growing" our economy, I would be happy with a hundred or more of such gaffes.

Sorry, guys, but this was comedy gold! The long form version is even better, because at 3:36 you can clearly hear the Queen tell Bambi to "set it down," referring to his raised glass that he's holding there, waiting for her to acknowledge it. Truly, watching her scold him for being such a boor is comedy you pay for!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG7VSt0_VcU

Finally, I wouldn't think this was so funny if Bambi weren't such an arrogant jerk who considers himself above such things as worrying about proper etiquette. But since he thinks he's above such petty things, it's just funny.

That quaint little background music was specially written to welcome him to grace the little island queendom. He is there, why the heck do they need GOD too to SAVE THE QUEEN, the little grand mother who didn't invite him to her grand son's little wedding to snub him. He ignores that and is gracious enough to grace their teensy-weensy island queendom. Proves that no good deed goes unpunished.

Oh, c'mon! Since when have we cared about proper protocol among the "Royals"? Short of apologizing for the Revolutionary War, I wouldn't raise an eyebrow if he had taken a whiz in the imperial punchbowl.

On the other hand, apparently thinking or wishing it was 2008…what's that about?

"But Michael Scott isn’t president and is fictional, so it’s a little easier to take."

That's what she said.

About the 2008 thing: I think he's time-traveling. That also explains the 57 states thing. He's been to a future where we've added 7 more states. Dude is AWESOME. Either that or he's the Kwisatz Haderach.

"The door was shut, and I was left with his Majesty and the secretary of state alone. I made the three reverences—one at the door, another about half way, and a third before the presence—according to the usage established at this and all the northern Courts of Europe, and then addrest myself to his Majesty in the following words:

“Sir:—The United States of America have appointed me their minister plenipotentiary to your Majesty, and have directed me to deliver to your Majesty this letter, which contains the evidence of it. It is in obedience to their express commands, that I have the honor to assure your Majesty of their unanimous disposition and desire to cultivate the most friendly and liberal intercourse between your Majesty’s subjects and their citizens, and of their best wishes for your Majesty’s health and happiness, and for that of your royal family.... I think myself more fortunate than all my fellow citizens, in having the distinguished honor to be the first to stand in your Majesty’s royal presence in a diplomatic character; and I shall esteem myself the happiest of men, if I can be instrumental in recommending my country more and more to your Majesty’s royal benevolence, and of restoring an entire esteem, confidence, and affection, or, in better words, the old good nature and the old good humor between people, who, tho separated by an ocean, and under different governments, have the same language, a similar religion, and kindred blood.

“I beg your Majesty’s permission to add, that, altho I have some time before been entrusted by my country, it was never in my whole life in a manner so agreeable to myself.”

The King listened to every word I said, with dignity, but with an apparent emotion. Whether it was the nature of the interview, or whether it was my visible agitation, for I felt more than I did or could express, that touched him, I can not say. But he was much affected, and answered me with more tremor than I had spoken with, and said:

“Sir:—The circumstances of this audience are so extraordinary, the language you have now held is so extremely proper, and the feelings you have discovered so justly adapted to the occasion, that I must say that I not only receive with pleasure the assurance of the friendly dispositions of the United States, but that I am very glad the choice has fallen upon you to be their minister."

Also interesting: in the video MayBee posted, at the 8:10 mark, the US anthem finishes playing. The queen (along with everyone else, except Obama) picks up her glass and raises it to the president. He returns the gesture by nodding, rather than picking up his own glass and drinking after she does.

@DBQ: Sadly, I have never been pheasant hunting, and I welcome your instruction in such matters. We can only hope that the inconsiderate bastard who stood uprange and ruined Cheney's shot had the grace and tact to apologize for his error before bleeding out. I amend my statement. The VP's hunting companion committed a faux pas that was truly worthy of regret, and we should keep it in mind when considering the President's burnt toast.

I think Mr Obama to be entirely tone deaf--it isnt the botched toast--thats trivial--the fact that he hasnt deigned to return to the United States to visit the centra US that has been ravaged by tornados says volumes about his total lack of empathy for ordinary americans.

The man is an unfeeling total fucking idiot and disgraces the office he holds.

he cannot be gone soon enough

regretably we are probably stuck with this ignorant clown for 6 more years